Media Releases for militaryhttp://www.piac.asn.au/piac-media-military
enAbuse claims spark doubts over jailshttp://www.piac.asn.au/news/2013/05/abuse-claims-spark-doubts-over-jails
<div class="field field-type-link field-field-news-url">
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<a href="http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/abuse-claims-spark-doubts-over-jails-20130516-2jpe2.html" target="_blank">Sydney Morning Herald 17 May 2013</a> </div>
</div>
</div>
<p>Australia has suspended again the transfer of suspected insurgents to some Afghan prisons in Tarin Kowt, Oruzgan, following allegations of&nbsp;abuse.</p><div class="field field-type-nodereference field-field-campaign">
<div class="field-label">Campaign:&nbsp;</div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<a href="/node/71">Freedom of Information</a> </div>
</div>
</div>
In the NewsPublish to militaryMon, 20 May 2013 03:37:34 +0000scott5841 at http://www.piac.asn.auAllegations detainees mistreatedhttp://www.piac.asn.au/news/2013/05/allegations-detainees-mistreated
<p>The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (<span class="caps">PIAC</span>) has used freedom of information law to obtain more previously classified and confidential documents relating to Australia’s involvement in the conflict in Afghanistan. They reveal allegations of mistreatment of detainees captured or &#8221;apprehended&#8221; by Australian forces in Afghanistan between 2010 and last&nbsp;year.</p><p><span class="dquo">&#8220;</span>Under international law, Australia must ensure that detainees are treated &#8216;humanely&#8217;, and that they&#8217;re not subjected to &#8216;humiliating and degrading treatment&#8217;. Australia has this obligation even after transferring detainees to one of its allies. Practices, like invasive body searches conducted in public, raise serious concerns, and need to be investigated further,&#8221; said <span class="caps">PIAC</span> <span class="caps">CEO</span>, Edward&nbsp;Santow.</p><p>The documents have been heavily censored and so do not reveal the full&nbsp;story.&nbsp;</p><p><span class="dquo">&#8220;</span>It is unfortunate that these documents have been so heavily redacted. When allegations of mistreatment are raised, we need to know that they are thoroughly&nbsp;investigated.&#8221;&nbsp;</p><p><span class="dquo">&#8220;</span>Australia claims its policies and practices comply with international law. Being transparent about detainee complaints and investigations is crucial to maintaining public confidence in the Australian military - both here and in Afghanistan,&#8221; Mr Santow&nbsp;said.</p><p><span class="caps">PIAC</span> will put all the documents online as soon as possible, but in the meantime they can be obtained from the <a href="http://www.defence.gov.au/foi/disclosure_log_201213.cfm" rel="nofollow">Department of Defence website</a>.</p><p>To learn mote about <span class="caps">PIAC</span>&#8217;s previous investigations into military detention click&nbsp;<a href="http://military.piac.asn.au/home" rel="nofollow">here</a>.</p><p>Photo: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/james_gordon_losangeles/7452100958/sizes/l/in/photostream/" rel="nofollow">flickr</a></p>News ItemPublish to militaryWed, 15 May 2013 22:01:58 +0000deirdre5837 at http://www.piac.asn.auAfghan detainees complain of humiliating searcheshttp://www.piac.asn.au/news/2013/05/afghan-detainees-complain-humiliating-searches
<div class="field field-type-link field-field-news-url">
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<a href="http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/troops-humiliated-afghan-detainees-20130515-2jmpl.html" target="_blank">Sydney Morning Herald 16 May 2013</a> </div>
</div>
</div>
<p>Afghan detainees captured by the Australian Defence Force and held at a <span class="caps">US</span> military prison near Bagram complained to Australian government officials that they were forced to accept humiliatingly public &#8220;groin and buttocks&#8221; searches, previously secret defence documents&nbsp;reveal.</p><p>The papers also reveal that the warmest blankets were kept back as a reward for the best-behaved prisoners on freezing winter nights. There were also complaints about food, overcrowding, water quality, lack of progress in having cases reviewed, medical problems and long waiting lists for dental&nbsp;work.</p><p>Read more: <a href="http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/troops-humiliated-afghan-detainees-20130515-2jmpl.html#ixzz2TOmAK7G4" rel="nofollow">http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/troops-humiliated-afghan-detainees-20130515-2jmpl.html#ixzz2TOmAK7G4</a></p><p>Photo: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/defenceimages/6312097552/" rel="nofollow">flickr Defence&nbsp;images</a></p><div class="field field-type-nodereference field-field-campaign">
<div class="field-label">Campaign:&nbsp;</div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<a href="/node/71">Freedom of Information</a> </div>
</div>
</div>
In the NewsPublish to militaryWed, 15 May 2013 21:30:50 +0000deirdre5835 at http://www.piac.asn.auPIAC publishes second tranche of Defence docshttp://www.piac.asn.au/news/2012/03/piac-publishes-second-tranche-defence-docs
<p><span class="caps">PIAC</span> has released a second tranche of <a href="http://military.piac.asn.au" rel="nofollow">previously
classified documents</a> from the Australian Department of Defence
(<span class="caps">ADF</span>), obtained using Freedom of Information law.</p>
<p>The documents provide further insights into Australia’s
military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan between 2001 and&nbsp;2005.</p>
<p>They include records of interviews with <span class="caps">ADF</span> personnel,
situation reports, minutes and briefs, and Question Time&nbsp;briefs.</p>
<p>The documents provide details of a 2004 review of <span class="caps">ADF</span> interrogation
techniques and resistance to interrogation&nbsp;training.</p>
<p>The review recommended there be external oversight of the <a href="http://military.piac.asn.au/documents/document-177" rel="nofollow"><span class="caps">ADF</span>’s interrogation
doctrine</a> and&nbsp;procedures.&nbsp;</p>
<p>However, this recommendation was <a href="http://www.piac.asn.au/news/2012/03/supervision-interrogation-training-never-adopted" rel="nofollow">not adopted</a>.</p>
<p>Other documents published today discuss the risk of <a href="http://military.piac.asn.au/documents/document-242" rel="nofollow">individuals
captured by Australian forces</a> being subject to the death penalty in&nbsp;Iraq.</p><p>Photo: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29456680@N06/3071313316" rel="nofollow">Flikr</a></p>News ItemPublish to militaryWed, 28 Mar 2012 06:21:53 +00005151 at http://www.piac.asn.auSupervision of interrogation training never adoptedhttp://www.piac.asn.au/news/2012/03/supervision-interrogation-training-never-adopted
<div class="field field-type-link field-field-news-url">
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<a href="http://www.smh.com.au/national/supervision-of-interrogation-training-was-never-adopted-20120323-1vpbx.html" target="_blank">Sydney Morning Herald, 24 March 2012</a> </div>
</div>
</div>
<p>Previously secret defence documents obtained by the Public Interest Advocacy Centre reveal that Australian defence chiefs agreed there should be external supervision of Australia&#8217;s military interrogation training following the 2004 Abu Ghraib prisoner scandal, but the recommendation was never adopted, the <em>Sydney Morning Herald</em> reports.</p><p><span class="quo">&#8216;</span>The revelation raises questions about why such high-level advice was disregarded, especially given that Australia sent a specialist team of army interrogators to Afghanistan last month - the first such deployment since the East Timor conflict,&#8217; writes Herald journalist Deborah&nbsp;Snow.</p><p><span class="quo">&#8216;</span>The 2004 papers, dating from the height of the coalition occupation of Iraq, were obtained by the Public Interest Advocacy Centre under freedom of&nbsp;information.</p><p><span class="quo">&#8216;</span>They reveal how top army brass were keen to fireproof themselves against further scandals like Abu Ghraib, in which Iraqi prisoners of war were humiliated and abused by <span class="caps">US</span> military guards. Australia, as a junior coalition partner, was caught up in the&nbsp;backlash.&#8217;</p><p><strong><a target="_blank" href="http://www.smh.com.au/national/supervision-of-interrogation-training-was-never-adopted-20120323-1vpbx.html#ixzz1pyuQ2pJ7" rel="nofollow">More on this story&nbsp;&#8230;&nbsp;</a></strong></p><p><strong>Related analysis:</strong> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.smh.com.au/national/drawing-the-line-on-torture-20120323-1vp5c.html" rel="nofollow">Drawing the line on torture</a>, <em><span class="caps">SMH</span></em> 24 March&nbsp;2012</p><p><strong>Source material:</strong> previously classified <a target="_blank" href="http://military.piac.asn.au/" rel="nofollow">Defence documents</a>&nbsp;published by&nbsp;<span class="caps">PIAC</span></p><p>Photo: <a href="http://flic.kr/p/5NaNao" rel="nofollow">Flikr</a></p>In the NewsPublish to militaryFri, 23 Mar 2012 22:35:34 +00005147 at http://www.piac.asn.auClassified US memo re prisoner's mysterious deathhttp://www.piac.asn.au/news/2012/02/classified-us-memo-re-prisoners-mysterious-death
<p>A previously classified <span class="caps">US</span> Department of Defence memo about the death of an Iraqi prisoner, Tanik Mahmud, was published today on the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (<span class="caps">PIAC</span>)&nbsp;website.</p><p>The memo discusses the involvement of Australian, British and American military personnel in the capture, detention and transfer of Tanik Mahmud to an Iraqi detention facility known only as as&nbsp;H1.</p><p><a href="http://military.piac.asn.au/story/australias-role-capturing-66-detainees-iraq-11-april-2003-and-death-custody-detainee?page=3" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Mr Mahmud died en-route</a>, &#8220;cause of death unknown&#8221;. He was one of more than 60 Iraqis captured by Australian troops in the western desert of Iraq in April 2003. Prior to their transfer to H1, the prisoners had sandbags placed over their heads and their hands were&nbsp;zip-tied.</p><p><span class="quo"><span class="quo">&#8216;</span>This&nbsp;</span>official&nbsp;<span class="caps"><span class="caps">US</span></span>&nbsp;military report, obtained by <span class="caps">PIAC</span>, <span class="caps">confirms that the Australian troops&nbsp;were accompanied by just one <span class="caps">US</span> soldier, when they captured the suspected combatants in western Iraq. The report concluded that in such circumstances, the <span class="caps">US</span>, <span class="caps">UK</span> and Australia will be jointly responsible under the Geneva Conventions for the&nbsp;detention.</span></p><p><span class="quo">&#8216;</span>This contradicts Australia&#8217;s repeated statements that it was never a Detaining Power in Iraq, including in this particular incident,&#8217; said <span class="caps">PIAC</span> chief executive officer, Edward&nbsp;Santow. </p><p><span class="quo">&#8216;</span>The report highlights that Australia had clear obligations under the Geneva Conventions and it deliberately sought to avoid them. That&nbsp;policy of denial was so implausible that even Australia&#8217;s ally, the United States, did not accept it in this instance.&#8217;<br /><br /></p><ul><li>Read the previously classified&nbsp;<a href="http://www.piac.asn.au/sites/default/files/news/attachments/us_dept_of_defence_memo.pdf" rel="nofollow"><span class="caps">US</span> Department of Defence&nbsp;memo</a></li><li>Find out more about <a href="http://military.piac.asn.au/story/australias-role-capturing-66-detainees-iraq-11-april-2003-and-death-custody-detainee" rel="nofollow">Tanik Mahmud</a> and <a href="http://military.piac.asn.au/home" rel="nofollow">Australia&#8217;s military detention practices</a> in Iraq and&nbsp;Afghanistan.</li><li>Take action: we need an <a href="http://military.piac.asn.au/action" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">independent inquiry</a>&nbsp;into the details surrounding Australia’s involvement in the conflicts in Afghanistan&nbsp;and&nbsp;Iraq.</li></ul><p>Photo: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/soldiersmediacenter/985851282/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Flikr</a></p>News ItemPublish to militaryTue, 21 Feb 2012 05:30:24 +00005069 at http://www.piac.asn.auAustralia 'integral' in secret jailhttp://www.piac.asn.au/news/2012/02/australia-integral-secret-jail
<div class="field field-type-link field-field-news-url">
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<a href="http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/political-news/australia-integral-in-secret-jail-20120208-1rf13.html" target="_blank">The Age, 9 February 2012</a> </div>
</div>
</div>
<p>The Age, 9 February&nbsp;2012:</p><p><span class="caps">AUSTRALIA</span> was an &#8221;integral&#8221; element of the potentially illegal detention of prisoners of war at a secret Iraqi desert prison in 2003, according to a <span class="caps">US</span> military&nbsp;document.</p><p>News of the document has led an Australian human rights organisation investigating such secret prisons to say the Australian military may have been complicit in war crimes by handing detainees over to the so-called &#8221;black&nbsp;site&#8221;.</p><p>The allegations in the document were denied last night by the Defence Department, which said Australia was only &#8221;providing security&#8221; when the detainees were handed&nbsp;over.</p>Advertisement: Story continues below<p>The secret prisons, which became infamous after the 2003 Abu Ghraib scandal, were used by a <span class="caps">US</span> military unit codenamed Taskforce 6-26 to interrogate enemy fighters believed to hold important&nbsp;information.</p><p>According to a 2006&nbsp;<em>New York Times</em>&nbsp;investigation, detainees at such prisons were beaten, waterboarded, spat on and&nbsp;tortured.</p><p>Up to this point, Australia has never been accused of involvement in such&nbsp;incidents.</p><p><span><br />Read more:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/political-news/australia-integral-in-secret-jail-20120208-1rf13.html#ixzz1lw6PGo5z" rel="nofollow">http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/political-news/australia-integral-in-secret-jail-20120208-1rf13.html#ixzz1lw6PGo5z</a></span></p>In the NewsPublish to militaryFri, 10 Feb 2012 00:57:53 +00005057 at http://www.piac.asn.auUS report confirms Australian involvement in capture and transport of Iraqi prisonershttp://www.piac.asn.au/news/2012/02/us-report-confirms-australian-involvement-capture-and-transport-iraqi-prisoners
<p>The
Australian Government has consistently maintained that Australian military
personnel had <a href="http://www.piac.asn.au/news/2012/02/australias-defence-dept-denies-links-secret-prisons" rel="nofollow">no involvement</a> in the detention of captives in Iraq.&nbsp;However, a classified <span class="caps">US</span> memo obtained by the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (<span class="caps">PIAC</span>) makes it clear
that Australia was deeply entangled in the capture and detention of Iraqis.</p>
<p><span class="quo">&#8216;</span>An official <span class="caps">US</span> military report obtained by <span class="caps">PIAC</span> confirms that Australian troops&nbsp;were accompanied by just one <span class="caps">US</span> soldier when they captured the suspected combatants in western Iraq,&#8217; <span class="caps">PIAC</span> chief executive Edward Santow said&nbsp;today.</p>&#8216;The <span class="caps">US</span> military report concluded that in such circumstances, the <span class="caps">US</span>, <span class="caps">UK</span> and Australia will be &#8216;jointly responsible&#8217; under the Geneva Conventions for the detention,&#8217; Mr Santow said.<br /><br />The&nbsp;classified <span class="caps">US</span> military report is written by officers from a <span class="caps">US</span> task force that coordinated coalition operations in western Iraq, using American, British and Australian troops. It is signed by a <span class="caps">US</span> Army Major.&nbsp;The
report confirms that Australian special forces worked closely with American and
British military personnel in the capture and transport of more than 60 Iraqi
prisoners to <a href="http://military.piac.asn.au/documents/document-97" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">detention facility known as H1</a> on 11 April 2003.<p>Prior
to their transfer to H1, the prisoners had sandbags placed over their heads and
their hands were zip-tied. One of the prisoners, <a href="http://military.piac.asn.au/story/australias-role-capturing-66-detainees-iraq-11-april-2003-and-death-custody-detainee?page=3" rel="nofollow">Tanik Mahmud, died enroute</a>, “cause of death&nbsp;unknown”.</p>
<p>The
<span class="caps">US</span> report states that “three Coalition elements” were involved in the
capture and transport of so-called enemy prisoners of war (or&nbsp;<span class="caps">EPW</span>).</p>
<p>The
report names these three Coalition elements as: “Task Force 64, the Australian
special forces task group under the tactical control of this headquarters; Task
Force 14, the British special forces task group, also under the tactical
control of this headquarters; and Task Force Seminole, the <span class="caps">US</span> Army
civil-military affairs task&nbsp;group.”</p>
<p>The
<span class="caps">US</span> report notes that the Australian forces
were accompanied by one <span class="caps">US</span> Air Force Special Tactics Squadron&nbsp;member.</p>
<p>“Under
the circumstances, some doubt exists as to which party is the Detaining Power
for purposes of responsibilities under the Geneva Conventions,” the report&nbsp;notes.</p>
<p>The
report went on to state: “The tri-partite agreement between the United States,
the United Kingdom, and Australia, dated 23 March 03, provides that in such
circumstances, all parties will be jointly responsible until the Detaining
Power has by mutual agreement been&nbsp;determined.”</p>
<p><span class="caps">PIAC</span>
understands that Task Force 64 was the codename for a squadron of 150
Australian <span class="caps">SAS</span> troops who played a key role in operations in&nbsp;Iraq.</p>
<p><a href="http://military.piac.asn.au/story/australias-role-capturing-66-detainees-iraq-11-april-2003-and-death-custody-detainee" rel="nofollow">Documents obtained by <span class="caps">PIAC</span></a> under Freedom of Information laws have established that on 11 April
2003, 20 members of the Australian Special Air Service (<span class="caps">SAS</span>) captured 66 Iraqi,
Iranian and Syrian men who were driving through the western desert of Iraq. The <span class="caps">SAS</span> held the men for
ten hours before they were transported to the H1&nbsp;facility.</p><p><strong>Related&nbsp;links:</strong></p><ul><li><span>See the&nbsp;</span><a href="http://military.piac.asn.au/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><span class="caps">PIAC</span> investigation</a>&nbsp;of Australian military detention&nbsp;practices</li><li><span class="caps">PIAC</span>&nbsp;<a href="http://www.piac.asn.au/sites/default/files/news/attachments/12.02.09_media_statement_military_detention.pdf" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">media statement:</a><span>&nbsp;Australia complicit in illegal military&nbsp;detention</span></li><li><span>Read </span><a href="http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/memo-states-defence-role-in-death-of-iraq-prisoner-20120209-1rxam.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Memo states Defence role in death of Iraq prisoner</a><span>, <span class="caps">SMH</span> 10 Feb&nbsp;2012</span></li><li><span>Read&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/australias-link-to-secret-iraq-prisons-20120208-1rf10.html#ixzz1lpWyqIZg " target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Australia&#8217;s link to secret Iraq prisons</a><span>, <span class="caps">SMH</span>, 9 Feb&nbsp;2012</span></li><li><span>Read </span><a href="http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/political-news/australia-integral-in-secret-jail-20120208-1rf13.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Australia &#8216;integral&#8217; in secret jail</a><span>, The Age, 9 Feb&nbsp;2012</span></li><li><span>Read&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/feb/07/iraq-death-secret-detention-camp" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><span class="caps">RAF</span> helicopter death revelation leads to secret Iraq detention camp</a><span>, Guardian, 7 Feb&nbsp;2012</span></li><li><span>Listen to <span class="caps">PIAC</span>&#8217;s Edward Santow on&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/breakfast/2012-02-09/3819858" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Radio National</a><span>, 9 Feb&nbsp;2012</span></li><li><span>Listen to the&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2012/s3426377.htm" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><span class="caps">AM</span> report</a><span>, 9 Feb&nbsp;2012</span></li><li>Australia&#8217;s Defence Dept&nbsp;<a href="http://www.piac.asn.au/news/2012/02/australias-defence-dept-denies-links-secret-prisons" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">denies links to secret prisons,</a><span>&nbsp;<span class="caps">ABC</span> Radio Australia, 9 Feb&nbsp;2012</span></li><li><a href="http://news.google.com.au/news/story?gl=au&amp;pz=1&amp;cf=all&amp;ned=au&amp;hl=en&amp;q=public+interest+advocacy+centre&amp;ncl=dR8E8aYVJxog4aMsTfB8nV3lnCTwM" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Google&nbsp;news</a></li></ul><p>Photo: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35703177@N00/1126834106" rel="nofollow">Flickr</a></p>News ItemPublish to militaryThu, 09 Feb 2012 06:21:19 +00005053 at http://www.piac.asn.auAustralia's Defence Dept denies links to secret prisonshttp://www.piac.asn.au/news/2012/02/australias-defence-dept-denies-links-secret-prisons
<div class="field field-type-link field-field-news-url">
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<a href="http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/connectasia/stories/201202/s3426963.htm" target="_blank">ABC Radio Australia, 9 February 2012</a> </div>
</div>
</div>
<p>Senior members of the former Howard government and Australia&#8217;s Defence Department are denying claims that Australian soldiers were involved in transporting Iraqis to secret prisons during the war.</p><p>A <span class="caps">US</span> military document that has been obtained by the <em>Guardian</em> newspaper identifies an Australian <span class="caps">SAS</span> squadron of 150 men and says it was &#8220;integral&#8221; to the operation of a secret facility, known as H1, in Iraq&#8217;s western desert in 2003.&nbsp;<br /><br />Australia&#8217;s Defence Minister Stephen Smith (pictured) denies the claim.&nbsp;<br /><br />And Australia&#8217;s Former Foreign Minister, Alexander Downer, dismisses the allegation that the Australian military personnel were directly involved in any secret &#8220;black sites&#8221;.&nbsp;<br /><br />The Public Interest Advocacy Centre say there are questions about whether Australian <span class="caps">SAS</span> forces breached international laws while handling Iraqi prisoners of war. They point to a <span class="caps">US</span> military document that says Australia played a key role in so-called black sites - secret prison facilities hidden from the Red&nbsp;Cross.&nbsp;</p><p><a href="http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/connectasia/stories/201202/s3426963.htm" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Read the full&nbsp;story</a></p><p><strong>Related&nbsp;links:</strong></p><ul><li><span><span>Read </span><a href="http://www.piac.asn.au/news/2012/02/us-report-confirms-australian-involvement-capture-and-transport-iraqi-prisoners" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><span class="caps">US</span> report confirms Australian involvement</a>, <span class="caps">PIAC</span> 9 Feb&nbsp;2012</span></li><li><span><span>Read&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/memo-states-defence-role-in-death-of-iraq-prisoner-20120209-1rxam.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Memo states Defence role in death of Iraq prisoner</a><span>, <span class="caps">SMH</span> 10 Feb 2012</span><br /></span></li><li><span>See the&nbsp;</span><a href="http://military.piac.asn.au/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><span class="caps">PIAC</span> investigation</a>&nbsp;of Australian military detention&nbsp;practices</li><li>Read the <span class="caps">PIAC</span>&nbsp;<a href="http://www.piac.asn.au/sites/default/files/news/attachments/12.02.09_media_statement_military_detention.pdf" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">media statement:</a><span>&nbsp;Australia complicit in illegal military&nbsp;detention</span></li><li><span>Read&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/australias-link-to-secret-iraq-prisons-20120208-1rf10.html#ixzz1lpWyqIZg " target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Australia&#8217;s link to secret Iraq prisons</a><span>, <span class="caps">SMH</span>, 9 Feb&nbsp;2012</span></li><li><span>Read&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/feb/07/iraq-death-secret-detention-camp" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><span class="caps">RAF</span> helicopter death revelation leads to secret Iraq detention camp</a><span>, Guardian, 7 Feb&nbsp;2012</span></li><li><span>Listen to <span class="caps">PIAC</span>&#8217;s Edward Santow on&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/breakfast/2012-02-09/3819858" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Radio National</a><span>, 9 Feb&nbsp;2012</span></li><li><span>Listen to the&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2012/s3426377.htm" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><span class="caps">AM</span> report</a><span>, 9 Feb&nbsp;2012</span></li></ul><p>Photo: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ctbto/4364891447/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Flikr</a></p><p><strong><br /></strong></p>In the NewsPublish to militaryThu, 09 Feb 2012 05:55:57 +00005051 at http://www.piac.asn.auAustralia complicit in illegal military detentionhttp://www.piac.asn.au/news/2012/02/australia-complicit-illegal-military-detention
<p>Despite repeated
denials by the Department of Defence, new evidence is emerging that points to
Australia&#8217;s involvement in the illegal detention of prisoners in&nbsp;Iraq.</p>
<p><span class="quo">&#8216;</span>The Australian
Government has always maintained it had no involvement in so-called secret
prisons in Iraq,&#8217; the chief executive of the Public Interest Advocacy Centre
(<span class="caps">PIAC</span>), Edward Santow, said&nbsp;today.</p>
<p><span class="quo">&#8216;</span>But an official <span class="caps">US</span>
report obtained by the <em>Guardian</em>
suggests otherwise. The report apparently says that the Australian military
played an ‘integral part of operations’ at a secret Iraqi prison known as H1.
If true, this is deeply troubling,&#8217; Mr Santow&nbsp;said.</p>
<p>So-called secret
prisons operate contrary to the Geneva Conventions and international
humanitarian law. They don&#8217;t allow prisoners to be formally registered and they
don&#8217;t allow visits by the International Committee of the Red Cross. It is
unclear whether prisoners are treated humanely in such&nbsp;facilities.</p>
<p><span class="caps">PIAC</span> has been
investigating Australia’s role in Iraqi military&nbsp;detentions.</p>
<p><span class="quo">&#8216;</span><span class="caps">PIAC</span> has obtained a number of previously classified
and&nbsp;<a href="http://military.piac.asn.au/about" rel="nofollow">confidential documents</a> relating to Australia’s involvement in the conflicts
in Afghanistan and Iraq. <span class="caps">PIAC</span> believes that these documents contain a number of
important&nbsp;revelations,&#8217; Mr Santow&nbsp;said.</p>
<p><span class="quo">&#8216;</span>The Australian Government deliberately tried to&nbsp;<a href="http://military.piac.asn.au/story/australias-detention-custody-and-transfer-policy-afghanistan-and-iraq" rel="nofollow">avoid its obligations</a>&nbsp;under international law in
relation to alleged combatants captured by the Australian Defence Force in
Afghanistan&nbsp;and&nbsp;Iraq.</p>
<p><span class="quo">&#8216;</span>Australia’s
detainee policy had&nbsp;disastrous&nbsp;consequences. </p>
<p><span class="quo">&#8216;</span>The Australian
Government has said that the first it new of prisoner mistreatment was when
details of the Abu Ghraib torture and mistreatment became&nbsp;public.</p>
<p><span class="quo">&#8216;</span>But <span class="caps">PIAC</span>’s
investigations have showed that the Australian military knew about the
disturbing practices in Abu Ghraib and elsewhere well before the media broke
the&nbsp;story.&nbsp;</p>
<p><span class="quo">&#8216;</span>These latest
revelations raise further questions about what Australian authorities knew, how
the Australian Defence Force was involved, and&nbsp;when.</p>
<p><span class="quo">&#8216;</span>Despite Department
of Defence denials, it is becoming clear that Australia was complicit in
breaches of international&nbsp;law.</p>
<p><span class="quo">&#8216;</span>We need a
Royal Commission to get to the bottom of these allegations, and to ensure that
the Australian military now complies fully with the Geneva Conventions and
international law,&#8217; Mr Santow&nbsp;said.</p>
<p><strong>Contact:</strong>
<span class="caps">PIAC</span> Media and Communications Officer, Dominic O’Grady: 0400 110&nbsp;169.</p><p><strong>Related&nbsp;links:</strong></p><ul><li><span><span><span>Read&nbsp;</span><a target="_blank" href="http://www.piac.asn.au/news/2012/02/us-report-confirms-australian-involvement-capture-and-transport-iraqi-prisoners" rel="nofollow" rel="nofollow"><span class="caps"><span class="caps">US</span></span>&nbsp;report confirms Australian involvement</a>,&nbsp;<span class="caps"><span class="caps">PIAC</span></span>&nbsp;10 Feb&nbsp;2012<br /></span></span></li><li><span><span>Read&nbsp;</span><a target="_blank" href="http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/memo-states-defence-role-in-death-of-iraq-prisoner-20120209-1rxam.html" rel="nofollow">Memo states Defence role in death of Iraq prisoner</a><span>, <span class="caps">SMH</span> 10 Feb 2012</span><br /></span></li><li><span>See the&nbsp;</span><a target="_blank" href="http://military.piac.asn.au/" rel="nofollow"><span class="caps">PIAC</span> investigation</a>&nbsp;of Australian military detention&nbsp;practices</li><li><span class="caps">PIAC</span>&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://www.piac.asn.au/sites/default/files/news/attachments/12.02.09_media_statement_military_detention.pdf" rel="nofollow">media statement:</a><span>&nbsp;Australia complicit in illegal military&nbsp;detention</span></li><li><span>Read&nbsp;</span><a target="_blank" href="http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/australias-link-to-secret-iraq-prisons-20120208-1rf10.html#ixzz1lpWyqIZg " rel="nofollow">Australia&#8217;s link to secret Iraq prisons</a><span>, <span class="caps">SMH</span>, 9 Feb&nbsp;2012</span></li><li><span>Read&nbsp;</span><a target="_blank" href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/feb/07/iraq-death-secret-detention-camp" rel="nofollow"><span class="caps">RAF</span> helicopter death revelation leads to secret Iraq detention camp</a><span>, Guardian, 7 Feb&nbsp;2012</span></li><li><span>Listen to <span class="caps">PIAC</span>&#8217;s Edward Santow on&nbsp;</span><a target="_blank" href="http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/breakfast/2012-02-09/3819858" rel="nofollow">Radio National</a><span>, 9 Feb&nbsp;2012</span></li><li><span>Listen to the&nbsp;</span><a target="_blank" href="http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2012/s3426377.htm" rel="nofollow"><span class="caps">AM</span> report</a><span>, 9 Feb&nbsp;2012</span></li><li>Australia&#8217;s Defence Dept&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://www.piac.asn.au/news/2012/02/australias-defence-dept-denies-links-secret-prisons" rel="nofollow">denies links to secret prisons,</a><span>&nbsp;<span class="caps">ABC</span> Radio&nbsp;Australia</span></li></ul><p><strong><br /></strong></p><p>Photo: <a target="_blank" href="http://flic.kr/p/5NaNao" rel="nofollow">Flickr</a></p><div class="field field-type-nodereference field-field-campaign">
<div class="field-label">Campaign:&nbsp;</div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<a href="/node/71">Freedom of Information</a> </div>
</div>
</div>
Media ReleasePublish to militaryThu, 09 Feb 2012 05:41:25 +00005049 at http://www.piac.asn.auAustralia's link to secret Iraq prisonshttp://www.piac.asn.au/news/2012/02/australias-link-secret-iraq-prisons
<p>Australia was an &#8220;integral&#8221; element of the potentially illegal detention of prisoners of war at a secret Iraqi desert prison in 2003, according to a British newspaper, citing a <span class="caps">US</span> military document.</p><p><span>The revelation has led to the Public Interest Advocacy Centre, which is investigating </span><a href="http://military.piac.asn.au/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Australia&#8217;s involvement in illegal detentions</a><span> in Iraq, to claim that the Australian military might have been complicit in war crimes by handing detainees over to the so-called &#8220;black site&#8221; known as&nbsp;H1.</span></p><p><strong>Related&nbsp;links:</strong></p><ul><li><span>See the&nbsp;</span><a href="http://military.piac.asn.au/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><span class="caps">PIAC</span> investigation</a>&nbsp;of Australian military detention&nbsp;practices</li><li><span class="caps">PIAC</span> <a href="http://www.piac.asn.au/sites/default/files/news/attachments/12.02.09_media_statement_military_detention.pdf" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">media statement:</a><span> Australia complicit in illegal military&nbsp;detention</span></li><li><span>Read&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/australias-link-to-secret-iraq-prisons-20120208-1rf10.html#ixzz1lpWyqIZg " target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Australia&#8217;s link to secret Iraq prisons</a><span>, <span class="caps">SMH</span>, 9 Feb&nbsp;2012</span></li><li><span>Read </span><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/feb/07/iraq-death-secret-detention-camp" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><span class="caps">RAF</span> helicopter death revelation leads to secret Iraq detention camp</a><span>, Guardian, 7 Feb&nbsp;2012</span></li><li><span>Listen to <span class="caps">PIAC</span>&#8217;s Edward Santow on </span><a href="http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/breakfast/2012-02-09/3819858" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Radio National</a><span>, 9 Feb&nbsp;2012</span></li><li><span>Listen to the </span><a href="http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2012/s3426377.htm" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><span class="caps">AM</span> report</a><span>, 9 Feb&nbsp;2012</span></li><li>Australia&#8217;s Defence Dept <a href="http://www.piac.asn.au/news/2012/02/australias-defence-dept-denies-links-secret-prisons" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">denies links to secret prisons,</a><span>&nbsp;<span class="caps">ABC</span> Radio&nbsp;Australia</span></li></ul><p><span>Photo: </span><a href="http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/australias-link-to-secret-iraq-prisons-20120208-1rf10.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Reuters/<span class="caps">SMH</span></a></p><div class="field field-type-filefield field-field-attachments">
<div class="field-label">Attachments:&nbsp;</div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<div class="filefield-file clear-block"><img class="filefield-icon field-icon-application-pdf" alt="application/pdf icon" src="http://www.piac.asn.au/sites/all/modules/filefield/icons/application-pdf.png" /><a href="http://www.piac.asn.au/sites/default/files/news/attachments/12.02.09_media_statement_military_detention.pdf" type="application/pdf; length=245589">12.02.09_media_statement_military_detention.pdf</a></div> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-nodereference field-field-project">
<div class="field-label">Project:&nbsp;</div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<a href="/project/foi-action">FOI in action</a> </div>
</div>
</div>
In the NewsPublish to militaryWed, 08 Feb 2012 22:03:04 +00005047 at http://www.piac.asn.auRoyal Commission: uncovering the truth about military detaineeshttp://www.piac.asn.au/news/2011/07/royal-commission-uncovering-truth-about-military-detainees
<p>In 2011, the Australian Greens Leader, Senator Bob Brown, joined the Public
Interest Advocacy Centre (<span class="caps">PIAC</span>) in calling for a full and independent inquiry
into the Australian Defence Force’s (<span class="caps">ADF</span>) detention practices in Iraq and Afghanistan.</p>
<p>‘The <span class="caps">UK</span> and <span class="caps">US</span> have had open inquiries, but Australia has yet to
publicly account for how it detains and treats captives in Iraq and
Afghanistan,’ said <span class="caps">PIAC</span> chief executive officer, Edward&nbsp;Santow.</p>
<p>‘There are outstanding questions about Australia’s current operations in&nbsp;Afghanistan.</p>
<p>‘What conditions are placed on captives who are handed over by
Australian forces to the <span class="caps">US</span> and&nbsp;Afghanistan?</p>
<p>‘Does Australia still use the legal fiction of having one <span class="caps">US</span> soldier
embedded with Australian troops to try to avoid its legal responsibilities to&nbsp;captives?</p>
<p>‘We need to ensure that, in current and future conflicts, Australia
fully complies with its international legal obligations and the Geneva
Conventions’, Mr Santow&nbsp;said.</p>
<p>The call for an independent inquiry follows revelations this week that
the <span class="caps">ADF</span> knew of abuses at Abu Ghraib prison and an Australian military lawyer
obstructed International Committee of the Red Cross inspectors access to
detainees at Abu&nbsp;Ghraib.</p>
<p>The revelations are based on previously secret documents obtained by <span class="caps">PIAC</span>
under freedom of information laws and published online at <a href="http://military.piac.asn.au" rel="nofollow">http://military.piac.asn.au</a>.</p>
<p>‘The documents show a disturbing response by Australian officials
regarding detainee mistreatment,’ said Mr&nbsp;Santow.</p><p>Photo: <a target="_blank" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35703177@N00/1126834106" rel="nofollow">Flickr</a></p><div class="field field-type-nodereference field-field-campaign">
<div class="field-label">Campaign:&nbsp;</div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<a href="/node/71">Freedom of Information</a> </div>
</div>
</div>
Media ReleasePublish to militaryTue, 05 Jul 2011 04:01:45 +00004677 at http://www.piac.asn.auCalls for inquiry into Abu Ghraib abuseshttp://www.piac.asn.au/news/2011/07/calls-inquiry-abu-ghraib-abuses
<div class="field field-type-link field-field-news-url">
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<a href="http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/calls-for-inquiry-into-abu-ghraib-abuses/story-e6frf7jx-1226087526462" target="_blank">Herald Sun, via aap</a> </div>
</div>
</div>
<p>Activist law group, the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (<span class="caps">PIAC</span>) is calling for an inquiry to assess what the Australian Defence Force and government knew of abuses at the Abu Ghraib prison in&nbsp;Iraq.</p><p>The inquiry should also include Australian Defence Force conduct in Iraq and Afghanistan when prisoners were automatically handed over to the <span class="caps">US</span>&nbsp;military.</p><p>It follows the release of a large number of defence documents following a protracted freedom of information case mounted by the&nbsp;centre.</p><p><span class="caps">PIAC</span> chief executive Edward Santow said the documents raised some very concerning&nbsp;questions.</p><p><span class="dquo">&#8220;</span>A number of question remain unanswered. We need a full independent inquiry to get to the bottom of those issues,&#8221; he said on the <span class="caps">PIAC</span>&nbsp;website.</p><div class="field field-type-nodereference field-field-campaign">
<div class="field-label">Campaign:&nbsp;</div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<a href="/node/71">Freedom of Information</a> </div>
</div>
</div>
In the NewsPublish to militaryTue, 05 Jul 2011 02:25:39 +00004673 at http://www.piac.asn.auADF 'aware of Abu Ghraib abuses'http://www.piac.asn.au/news/2011/07/adf-aware-abu-ghraib-abuses
<div class="field field-type-link field-field-news-url">
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<a href="http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/adf-aware-of-abu-ghraib-abuses/story-e6frf7jx-1226087806214" target="_blank">Herald Sun, via aap</a> </div>
</div>
</div>
<p>The Defence Department has admitted how badly it handled the issue of Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq after the abuse of prisoners was&nbsp;revealed.</p><p>Documents obtained by Fairfax newspapers reveal a secret June 2004 report in which senior officials concluded that the photos revealing the abuse leaked six weeks earlier &#8220;should have elicited a more rapid and complete response from&nbsp;Defence&#8221;.</p><p>The documents also show that even before the photos surfaced, several Australian officials had serious reservations about the way the <span class="caps">US</span> was running the Iraqi prison system and whether it complied with Australia&#8217;s understanding of the Geneva&nbsp;Conventions.</p><div class="field field-type-nodereference field-field-campaign">
<div class="field-label">Campaign:&nbsp;</div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<a href="/node/71">Freedom of Information</a> </div>
</div>
</div>
In the NewsPublish to militaryTue, 05 Jul 2011 02:23:33 +00004671 at http://www.piac.asn.auAustralia's ties to Abu Ghraibhttp://www.piac.asn.au/news/2011/07/australias-ties-abu-ghraib
<div class="field field-type-link field-field-news-url">
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<a href="http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2011/s3260829.htm" target="_blank">ABC TV, 7.30</a> </div>
</div>
</div>
<p>Recently uncovered documents have linked an Australian soldier with the abuse of prisoners in Iraq&#8217;s notorious Abu Ghraib jail. The <span class="caps">ABC</span>&#8217;s Geoff Thompson&nbsp;investigates.</p><div class="field field-type-nodereference field-field-campaign">
<div class="field-label">Campaign:&nbsp;</div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<a href="/node/71">Freedom of Information</a> </div>
</div>
</div>
In the NewsPublish to militaryTue, 05 Jul 2011 02:20:43 +00004669 at http://www.piac.asn.auOdious POW practices treat Anzac heritage with disrepecthttp://www.piac.asn.au/news/2011/07/odious-pow-practices-treat-anzac-heritage-disrepect
<div class="field field-type-link field-field-news-url">
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<a href="http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/odious-prisonerofwar-practices-treat-anzac-heritage-with-disrespect-20110704-1gyxn.html?comments=25#comments" target="_blank">National Times, 5 July 2011</a> </div>
</div>
</div>
<p>The Anzac spirit is one of tenacity, bravery and triumph against the odds. It also emphasises a fair go, honesty and common&nbsp;decency.</p><p>The modern Australian Defence Force is the rightful heir to this proud heritage. But unless the <span class="caps">ADF</span> openly addresses its flaws, far more than its hard-earned reputation is at&nbsp;stake.</p><p>The <span class="caps">ADF</span> and the Australian government have systematically tried to avoid Australia&#8217;s obligations under the Geneva Conventions and international law in Iraq and&nbsp;Afghanistan.</p>These revelations, published this week by the&nbsp;<em>Herald</em>&nbsp;and broadcast by the <span class="caps">ABC</span>, come from a six-year investigation by the Public Interest Advocacy Centre, using freedom-of-information laws to find out how the <span class="caps">ADF</span> detains and treats people it captures in Afghanistan and Iraq.<p>Some of the results are shocking. The documents do not show individual Australian soldiers have committed atrocities. Instead, they show something more&nbsp;insidious.</p><p><a href="http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/odious-prisonerofwar-practices-treat-anzac-heritage-with-disrespect-20110704-1gyxn.html#ixzz1RC2gVUys" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Read more</a>&#8230;</p><div class="field field-type-nodereference field-field-campaign">
<div class="field-label">Campaign:&nbsp;</div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<a href="/node/71">Freedom of Information</a> </div>
</div>
</div>
In the NewsPublish to militaryTue, 05 Jul 2011 02:14:36 +00004667 at http://www.piac.asn.auUS torture of Iraqis a 'life or death game': military lawyerhttp://www.piac.asn.au/news/2011/07/us-torture-iraqis-life-or-death-game-military-lawyer
<div class="field field-type-link field-field-news-url">
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<a href="http://www.smh.com.au/national/us-torture-of-iraqis-a-life-or-death-game-military-lawyer-20110704-1gzdt.html#ixzz1RBTVuog" target="_blank">US torture of Iraqis a &#039;life or death game&#039;: military lawyer</a> </div>
</div>
</div>
<p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px;"></span></span></p><p><span class="caps">TWO</span> portraits of Lieutenant-Colonel George O&#8217;Kane, the Australian military lawyer who was embedded in the <span class="caps">US</span> army&#8217;s detainee system in Iraq, emerge from the documents released under freedom-of-information&nbsp;laws.</p><p></p><div class="field field-type-nodereference field-field-campaign">
<div class="field-label">Campaign:&nbsp;</div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<a href="/node/71">Freedom of Information</a> </div>
</div>
</div>
In the NewsPublish to militaryMon, 04 Jul 2011 23:55:40 +0000scott4655 at http://www.piac.asn.auWe got it wrong on abuse warning, Defence admitshttp://www.piac.asn.au/news/2011/07/we-got-it-wrong-abuse-warning-defence-admits
<div class="field field-type-link field-field-news-url">
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<a href="http://www.smh.com.au/national/we-got-it-wrong-on-abuse-warning-defence-admits-20110704-1gzg0.html" target="_blank">SMH, 5 July 2011</a> </div>
</div>
</div>
<p>The Defence Department admitted how badly it had handled the Abu Ghraib issue, even as it was publicly defending its actions, newly released documents reveal.<span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.smh.com.au/national/we-got-it-wrong-on-abuse-warning-defence-admits-20110704-1gzg0.html#ixzz1RAV6IDSG" rel="nofollow">Read more&nbsp;&#8230;</a></span></p><div class="field field-type-nodereference field-field-campaign">
<div class="field-label">Campaign:&nbsp;</div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<a href="/node/71">Freedom of Information</a> </div>
</div>
</div>
In the NewsPublish to militaryMon, 04 Jul 2011 19:55:23 +00004653 at http://www.piac.asn.auADF knew of abuses at Abu Ghraibhttp://www.piac.asn.au/news/2011/07/adf-knew-abuses-abu-ghraib
<div class="field field-type-link field-field-news-url">
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<a href="http://www.smh.com.au/national/adf-knew-of-abuses-at-abu-ghraib-20110704-1gz95.html" target="_blank">SMH, 5 July 2011</a> </div>
</div>
</div>
<p><a href="http://military.piac.asn.au" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Secret Defence documents</a>&nbsp;show an Australian officer, Major George O&#8217;Kane, was far more deeply involved in the operations of Abu Ghraib prison when terrible abuses of prisoners occurred than previously revealed.</p><p><a href="http://www.smh.com.au/national/adf-knew-of-abuses-at-abu-ghraib-20110704-1gz95.html#ixzz1RAPROqhg" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">More&#8230;</a></p><p>Read the Department of Defence&nbsp;<a href="http://military.piac.asn.au/documents" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">source documents</a>&nbsp;and other previously&nbsp;<a href="http://military.piac.asn.au" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">classified information</a>, plus <span class="caps">PIAC</span> analysis and&nbsp;<a href="http://military.piac.asn.au/about" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">expert commentary</a>.<br /><strong></strong></p><p><strong>Related&nbsp;coverage:</strong></p><p><strong></strong><a href="http://media.smh.com.au/system/ipad/abu-ghraib-and-what-australia-knew-2471173.html" rel="nofollow">Abu Ghraib and what Australia knew</a>&nbsp;(video link, <span class="caps">SMH</span>, 5 July&nbsp;2011)</p><p><a href="http://www.smh.com.au/national/we-got-it-wrong-on-abuse-warning-defence-admits-20110704-1gzg0.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">We got it wrong on abuse warning, Defence admits</a> (<span class="caps">SMH</span>, 5 July&nbsp;2011)</p><div class="field field-type-nodereference field-field-campaign">
<div class="field-label">Campaign:&nbsp;</div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<a href="/node/71">Freedom of Information</a> </div>
</div>
</div>
In the NewsPublish to militaryMon, 04 Jul 2011 19:35:23 +00004651 at http://www.piac.asn.auFull inquiry needed into Australia’s military detention http://www.piac.asn.au/news/2011/07/full-inquiry-needed-australia%E2%80%99s-military-detention
<p>The Australian Government must establish a full and independent inquiry
into the Australian Defence Force’s (<span class="caps">ADF</span>) detention practices in Iraq and Afghanistan,
according to the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (<span class="caps">PIAC</span>).</p>
<p>The call for an independent inquiry follows further revelations, aired on <span class="caps">ABC</span> <span class="caps">TV</span>’s <em>7.30</em>, based on
<a href="http://military.piac.asn.au" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">documents obtained by <span class="caps">PIAC</span></a> under freedom of information&nbsp;law.</p>
<p>‘The documents reveal the <span class="caps">ADF</span>’s role in assisting the <span class="caps">US</span> to obstruct the
International Committee of the Red Cross from visiting certain detainees at Abu
Ghraib prison in Iraq. They show a disturbing response by Australian officials
regarding detainee mistreatment,’ said <span class="caps">PIAC</span> chief executive officer, Edward&nbsp;Santow.</p>
<p>‘The documents raise big questions about <span class="caps">ADF</span> detention practices and the
<span class="caps">ADF</span>’s knowledge of illegal interrogation techniques at Abu Ghraib,’ Mr Santow&nbsp;said.</p>
<p>‘The documents show a failure of leadership within Australia’s military
hierarchy,’ Mr Santow&nbsp;said.</p>
<p><strong>The previously classified <span class="caps">ADF</span> documents are now available online at <a href="http://military.piac.asn.au/" rel="nofollow">http://military.piac.asn.au</a>.</strong></p>
<p>The documents&nbsp;reveal:</p><ul><li>The <span class="caps">ADF</span> relied on a legal
fiction to avoid its commitments under international law regarding the capture
of suspected combatants in Afghanistan and&nbsp;Iraq.</li><li>The <span class="caps">ADF</span> and the Australian
Government mishandled information about illegal interrogation
techniques at Abu&nbsp;Ghraib.&nbsp;</li></ul>
<p>‘We need a full inquiry, with Royal
Commission powers, to get to the&nbsp;truth.’</p>
<p>‘The <span class="caps">US</span> and <span class="caps">UK</span> have been more open to
scrutiny about their involvement in this conflict. Australia needs this inquiry
to ensure that the <span class="caps">ADF</span> has proper procedures in place that ensure our troops
abide by international law,’ Mr Santow&nbsp;said.</p>
<p><a href="http://youtu.be/AFT08GioM2s" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Hear Edward Santow</a> talk about why we need a full&nbsp;inquiry.</p><p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/52366474@N05/5138375369" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Photo: Flickr</a><strong></strong></p><div class="field field-type-nodereference field-field-campaign">
<div class="field-label">Campaign:&nbsp;</div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<a href="/node/71">Freedom of Information</a> </div>
</div>
</div>
Media ReleasePublish to militaryMon, 04 Jul 2011 19:13:05 +00004647 at http://www.piac.asn.auIraq documents raise questions about conduct of warhttp://www.piac.asn.au/news/2011/07/iraq-documents-raise-questions-about-conduct-war
<div class="field field-type-link field-field-news-url">
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<a href="http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2011/s3259877.htm" target="_blank">ABC Radio, AM </a> </div>
</div>
</div>
<p>When coalition forces invaded Iraq in April 2003 much was made of the early successes of Australian Special Forces troops.<br /><br />It was reported that about 60 men, mostly senior Iraqi officials were snatched in the country&#8217;s western desert along with almost $1 million in cash.<br /><br />What the Australian public never learned was that one of the group, an Iranian man, later died in custody under suspicious&nbsp;circumstances.</p><p><a href="http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2011/s3259877.htm" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">More&#8230;</a></p><div class="field field-type-nodereference field-field-campaign">
<div class="field-label">Campaign:&nbsp;</div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<a href="/node/71">Freedom of Information</a> </div>
</div>
</div>
In the NewsPublish to militaryMon, 04 Jul 2011 05:00:04 +00004645 at http://www.piac.asn.auRevealed: Defence confusion over POWshttp://www.piac.asn.au/news/2011/07/revealed-defence-confusion-over-pows
<div class="field field-type-link field-field-news-url">
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<a href="http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/07/04/3259870.htm" target="_blank">ABC online, 20 August 2010</a> </div>
</div>
</div>
<p class="first">Australia went to war in Afghanistan without a clear policy on how to deal with enemy detainees, secret papers&nbsp;reveal.</p><p>When a policy was adopted, the then chief of the Defence Force, Admiral Chris Barrie, expressed reservations about the legality of the agreed&nbsp;approach.</p><p>The documents also show another former Defence Force chief, General Peter Cosgrove, informed the Howard government of the death of an Iranian man captured by Australian troops in 2003, but the Australian public was never&nbsp;told.</p><p><a href="http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/07/04/3259870.htm" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">More&#8230;</a></p><p>Photo credit:&nbsp;(<span class="caps">ADF</span>, Corporal Neil&nbsp;Ruskin)</p><div class="field field-type-nodereference field-field-campaign">
<div class="field-label">Campaign:&nbsp;</div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<a href="/node/71">Freedom of Information</a> </div>
</div>
</div>
In the NewsPublish to militaryMon, 04 Jul 2011 04:09:32 +00004643 at http://www.piac.asn.auWar prisoner scheme defied global lawhttp://www.piac.asn.au/news/2011/07/war-prisoner-scheme-defied-global-law
<div class="field field-type-link field-field-news-url">
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<a href="http://www.smh.com.au/national/war-prisoner-scheme-defied-global-law-20110703-1gxg2.html" target="_blank">SMH, 4 July 2011</a> </div>
</div>
</div>
<p>Confidential Defence documents reveal that Australia&#8217;s policies on handling captives in Afghanistan and Iraq from 2001 to 2003 were so contrived they ran the risk of being neither ethical nor in line with international law, today&#8217;s <em><a href="http://www.smh.com.au/national/war-prisoner-scheme-defied-global-law-20110703-1gxg2.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Sydney Morning Herald</a></em>&nbsp;reports.</p><p>The risk was starkly outlined in a top secret memo from the then chief of the Defence Force, Admiral Chris Barrie, to the then defence minister, Robert Hill, in February 2002, which warned that the prisoner &#8221;arrangement may not fully satisfy Australia&#8217;s legal obligations and in any event will not be viewed as promising a respect for the rule of&nbsp;law&#8221;.</p><p><a href="http://www.smh.com.au/national/war-prisoner-scheme-defied-global-law-20110703-1gxg2.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Read&nbsp;more</a></p><p><em>Photo: <a href="http://www.smh.com.au/national/war-prisoner-scheme-defied-global-law-20110703-1gxg2.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Simon Dyer,&nbsp;<span class="caps">SMH</span></a></em></p><div class="field field-type-nodereference field-field-campaign">
<div class="field-label">Campaign:&nbsp;</div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<a href="/node/71">Freedom of Information</a> </div>
</div>
</div>
In the NewsPublish to militarySun, 03 Jul 2011 18:53:36 +00004639 at http://www.piac.asn.auUS made its own rules, leaving ally in a bindhttp://www.piac.asn.au/news/2011/07/us-made-its-own-rules-leaving-ally-bind
<div class="field field-type-link field-field-news-url">
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<a href="http://www.smh.com.au/world/us-made-its-own-rules-leaving-ally-in-a-bind-over-prisoners-20110703-1gxf8.html" target="_blank">SMH, 4 July 2011</a> </div>
</div>
</div>
<p><span class="caps">ON</span> <span class="caps">FEBRUARY</span> 25, 2002, Admiral Chris Barrie sat in his offices at Russell Hill in Canberra with a seemingly intractable problem on his&nbsp;plate.</p><p>Operation Anaconda was due to get under way in Afghanistan, a massive assault on al-Qaeda in the eastern mountain ranges. Australia had <span class="caps">SAS</span> troops on the ground, and there was a good chance they would take&nbsp;captives.</p><p>Yet Australia had no workable policy on handling&nbsp;prisoners</p><p><span>Read more:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.smh.com.au/world/us-made-its-own-rules-leaving-ally-in-a-bind-over-prisoners-20110703-1gxf8.html#ixzz1R4OhlSJn" rel="nofollow">http://www.smh.com.au/world/us-made-its-own-rules-leaving-ally-in-a-bind-over-prisoners-20110703-1gxf8.html#ixzz1R4OhlSJn</a></span></p><div class="field field-type-nodereference field-field-campaign">
<div class="field-label">Campaign:&nbsp;</div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<a href="/node/71">Freedom of Information</a> </div>
</div>
</div>
In the NewsPublish to militarySun, 03 Jul 2011 18:51:53 +00004637 at http://www.piac.asn.auIranian's death kept secret after capture by SAShttp://www.piac.asn.au/news/2011/07/iranians-death-kept-secret-after-capture-sas
<div class="field field-type-link field-field-news-url">
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<a href="http://www.smh.com.au/national/iranians-death-kept-secret-after-capture-by-sas-troops-20110703-1gxcx.html" target="_blank">SMH 4 July 2011</a> </div>
</div>
</div>
<p><span class="caps">IF</span> <span class="caps">IT</span> had not been for Australia&#8217;s practice of insisting that it did not take prisoners of war, Tanik Mahmud, a 43-year-old Iranian captured by the Australian <span class="caps">SAS</span> at a roadblock in western Iraq in April 2003, might still be alive.<span><br /><br />Read more:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.smh.com.au/national/iranians-death-kept-secret-after-capture-by-sas-troops-20110703-1gxcx.html#ixzz1R4NwCrAE" rel="nofollow">http://www.smh.com.au/national/iranians-death-kept-secret-after-capture-by-sas-troops-20110703-1gxcx.html#ixzz1R4NwCrAE</a></span></p><div class="field field-type-nodereference field-field-campaign">
<div class="field-label">Campaign:&nbsp;</div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<a href="/node/71">Freedom of Information</a> </div>
</div>
</div>
In the NewsPublish to militarySun, 03 Jul 2011 18:48:49 +00004635 at http://www.piac.asn.auCaptured and detained under a legal fiction http://www.piac.asn.au/news/2011/07/captured-and-detained-under-legal-fiction
<p>On 11 April 2003, 20 members of the Australian Special Air
Service (<span class="caps">SAS</span>) captured 66 Iraqi, Iranian and Syrian men who were driving
through the western desert of Iraq. &nbsp;Among those captured was a 43-year-old Iranian man, Tanik&nbsp;Mahmud. </p>
<p>The <span class="caps">SAS</span> forces detained Mr Mahmud and his associates for 10
hours. They were then handed over to the <span class="caps">UK</span> Royal Air Force (<span class="caps">RAF</span>) for transport
to a <span class="caps">US</span>-run detention facility in&nbsp;Iraq.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://military.piac.asn.au" rel="nofollow">Documents released to <span class="caps">PIAC</span></a> reveal that Mr Mahmud
subsequently died on a <span class="caps">RAF</span>&nbsp;helicopter.</p>
<p>Investigations in the <span class="caps">UK</span> suggested the strong possibility that three
<span class="caps">RAF</span> members had beaten Mr Mahmud to death, however no criminal charges have been laid.
The <span class="caps">UK</span> and Australian governments have refused to release the full details of
the events on 11 April&nbsp;2003.</p>
<p>As part of their joint operations in Iraq, an agreement, known as the Trilateral Arrangement, was entered into by&nbsp;Australia, the <span class="caps">UK</span> and the
<span class="caps">US</span>. The agreement governed how detainees would be transferred between these three allies, and if implemented, it would have ensured compliance with international law and the Geneva&nbsp;Conventions.</p>
<p>However, Australia sought to circumvent the operation of the
Trilateral Arrangement (and thus sought to avoid its responsibilities under
international law and the Geneva Conventions) by adopting a practice whereby at
least one <span class="caps">US</span> military representative would be present with the <span class="caps">ADF</span> when
detaining&nbsp;prisoners.</p>
<p>Australia and the <span class="caps">US</span> asserted that the presence of this
single <span class="caps">US</span> representative allowed the <span class="caps">US</span> to take sole responsibility for the&nbsp;detention.</p>
<p>This practice, which relies on a legal and logical fiction,
was used on 11 April&nbsp;2003.</p><p>Because there was just one <span class="caps">US</span> soldier present when the 20 <span class="caps">SAS</span> troops captured and detained the 66 men, including Mr Mahmud, Australia maintained
that the <span class="caps">US</span> was the sole detaining power. &nbsp;Australia therefore claimed no transfer took place and the
Trilateral Arrangement did not&nbsp;apply.</p>
<p>Australia sought to avoid its international legal
obligations in relation to Mr Mahmud and the 65 other&nbsp;men.</p>
<p>However, it seems clear that Australia was in reality the
detaining power of the men and thus had obligations under the Geneva Conventions
to ensure their humane treatment.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
<p>The transfer to the <span class="caps">UK</span> should have been pursuant to the
Trilateral Arrangement, which would have required Australia ensure that the detainees were accorded their Geneva Convention rights, and would have allowed Australia to monitor the <span class="caps">US</span> and <span class="caps">UK</span> treatment of the&nbsp;detainees.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Instead, Australia simply handed the 66 men to the <span class="caps">UK</span> for
transport to <span class="caps">US</span>&nbsp;custody.</p><p>Australia then tried to wash its hands of these&nbsp;captives.</p>
<p>When Australia later sought details from the <span class="caps">US</span> about these men, Australia’s
ally refused to provide them.&nbsp; When
the Iranian Government requested information about the four Iranian men’s
whereabouts, Australia simply responded that it was not the detaining&nbsp;power.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Until the release of these documents to <span class="caps">PIAC</span>, Australian
authorities have not revealed Mr&nbsp;Mahmud’s death in&nbsp;custody.</p>
<p>The story behind Mr&nbsp;Mahmud’s capture and detention
illuminates the way in which Australia has relied on a legal fiction to avoid
its legal responsibilities towards detainees in Iraq. His unexplained death
highlights the gravity of the possible consequences that flow from this&nbsp;policy.</p><p><strong>Related&nbsp;coverage:</strong></p><ul><li><strong><a target="_blank" href="http://www.piac.asn.au/news/2011/07/war-prisoner-scheme-defied-global-law" rel="nofollow">War prisoner scheme defied global law</a>&nbsp;</strong>(<em>Sydney Morning Herald</em>, 4 July&nbsp;2011)</li><li><strong><a target="_blank" href="http://www.piac.asn.au/news/2011/07/military-detention-uncovering-truth" rel="nofollow">Military detention: uncovering the truth</a>&nbsp;</strong>(Public Interest Advocacy Centre, 4 July&nbsp;2011)</li><li><strong><a target="_blank" href="http://www.piac.asn.au/news/2011/07/adf-deploys-legal-fiction-iraq-afghanistan" rel="nofollow"><span class="caps">ADF</span> deploys legal fiction in Iraq <span class="amp">&amp;</span> Afghanistan</a>&nbsp;</strong>(Public Interest Advocacy Centre, 4 July&nbsp;2011)</li></ul><p>Photo: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/52366474@N05/5138375369" rel="nofollow">Flickr</a></p><div class="field field-type-nodereference field-field-campaign">
<div class="field-label">Campaign:&nbsp;</div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<a href="/node/71">Freedom of Information</a> </div>
</div>
</div>
News ItemPublish to militarySun, 03 Jul 2011 18:30:36 +00004633 at http://www.piac.asn.auADF deploys legal fiction in Iraq & Afghanistanhttp://www.piac.asn.au/news/2011/07/adf-deploys-legal-fiction-iraq-afghanistan
<p>The Australian Defence Force (<span class="caps">ADF</span>) systematically tried to avoid its
legal obligations regarding the detention of prisoners of war in Iraq and
Afghanistan, according to documents obtained by the Public Interest Advocacy
Centre (<span class="caps">PIAC</span>).</p>
<p><span class="caps">PIAC</span> has used freedom of information laws to obtain previously
classified documents. They reveal the <span class="caps">ADF</span> has tried to avoid its
responsibilities under the Geneva&nbsp;Conventions.</p>
<p>‘The documents published today reveal a <strong>failure of leadership within the
<span class="caps">ADF</span></strong>. </p><p><span class="quo">&#8216;</span>Australia committed to abide by the Geneva Conventions and international
law, and then set about trying to avoid those commitments,’ said <span class="caps">PIAC</span> chief
executive officer, Edward Santow&nbsp;(pictured).</p>
<p>‘Under international law, a country that
captures prisoners of war must ensure their treatment complies with the Geneva&nbsp;Conventions.’</p>
<p>‘But in Afghanistan and Iraq, the <span class="caps">ADF</span>
leadership instructed Australian troops to have one <span class="caps">US</span> solider with them
whenever they captured suspected&nbsp;combatants.’</p>
<p>‘The <span class="caps">ADF</span> argued that just because one <span class="caps">US</span>
soldier was present, the <span class="caps">US</span>, not Australia, had made the capture. Under this
legal fiction, the <span class="caps">ADF</span> asserted that it had no responsibility to ensure the
humane treatment of the&nbsp;detainees.’</p>
<p>‘This argument is inconsistent with
international law and common sense,’ Santow&nbsp;said.</p>
<p>‘The death of a 43-year-old Iranian man,
Tanik Mahmud, highlights the dangers of this policy. Mr Mahmud was captured and
detained by 20 Australian soldiers, with just one <span class="caps">US</span> serviceman present. He was
then transferred to <span class="caps">UK</span> and <span class="caps">US</span>&nbsp;custody.’</p>
<p>‘Australia tried to wipe its hands of its
obligations to him. While initial reports advised he died of a heart attack,
credible allegations have emerged that he was in fact beaten to death in <span class="caps">UK</span>
custody,’ Santow&nbsp;said.</p>
<p>‘<span class="caps">PIAC</span> wants a full, <strong>independent inquiry</strong>
into this incident, and the <span class="caps">ADF</span> detention&nbsp;practices.’</p>
<p><strong>Related&nbsp;coverage:</strong> </p><ul><li><strong><a href="http://www.piac.asn.au/news/2011/07/war-prisoner-scheme-defied-global-law" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">War prisoner scheme defied global law</a> </strong>(<em>Sydney Morning Herald</em>, 4 July&nbsp;2011)</li><li><strong><a href="http://www.piac.asn.au/news/2011/07/military-detention-uncovering-truth" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Military detention: uncovering the truth</a> </strong>(Public Interest Advocacy Centre, 4 July&nbsp;2011)</li><li><strong><a href="http://www.piac.asn.au/news/2011/07/captured-and-detained-under-legal-fiction" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Captured and detained under a legal fiction</a> </strong>(Public Interest Advocacy Centre, 4 July&nbsp;2011)</li></ul><p><strong>Media contact</strong><strong>:&nbsp;</strong>Dominic O’Grady, <span class="caps">PIAC</span> Media and Communications&nbsp;Officer.</p><p>Ph: 02 8898 6532 or 0400 110&nbsp;169.</p><div class="field field-type-nodereference field-field-campaign">
<div class="field-label">Campaign:&nbsp;</div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<a href="/node/71">Freedom of Information</a> </div>
</div>
</div>
Media ReleasePublish to militarySun, 03 Jul 2011 18:29:43 +00004629 at http://www.piac.asn.auMilitary Detention: uncovering the truthhttp://www.piac.asn.au/news/2011/07/military-detention-uncovering-truth
<p>In 2011, <span class="caps">PIAC</span> obtained a number of previously <a href="http://military.piac.asn.au" rel="nofollow">classified documents</a> relating to Australia’s involvement in the conflicts in Afghanistan and&nbsp;Iraq.</p><p>These documents show the Australian Government deliberately tried to avoid its obligations under international law in relation to detainees caught by the Australia Defence Force (<span class="caps">ADF</span>) in Afghanistan and&nbsp;Iraq.</p><p>‘The documents raise big questions about <span class="caps">ADF</span> detention practices,’ says <span class="caps">PIAC</span> chief executive officer, Edward&nbsp;Santow.</p><p>‘The documents also show a failure of leadership within Australia’s military&nbsp;hierarchy.’</p><p>Mr Santow said the <span class="caps">ADF</span> was ill-prepared for operations in Afghanistan, as it had no clear plan to deal with captured Taliban and Al Qa’eda&nbsp;fighters.</p><p>‘The <span class="caps">ADF</span> had not put adequate resources into processing and detaining captives in Afghanistan because it assumed that <span class="caps">US</span> forces would take responsibility for any prisoners of war&nbsp;(POWs).</p><p>‘Australia assumed the <span class="caps">US</span> shared its view that the Geneva Conventions applied to all fighters who were captured in Afghanistan and that they would be treated as&nbsp;POWs.</p><p>‘However, these assumptions proved to be unfounded because the <span class="caps">US</span> took a different view, asserting that the Geneva Conventions did not fully apply to the conflict and captives were not POWs but so-called “unlawful&nbsp;combatants”.’</p><p>According to <span class="caps">PIAC</span>, this left the <span class="caps">ADF</span> with a problem. ‘The <span class="caps">ADF</span> did not have the resources to detain captives,’ Mr Santow&nbsp;said.</p><p>‘However, the <span class="caps">ADF</span> could not transfer its captives to <span class="caps">US</span> custody for detention and processing because to do so would breach the Geneva Conventions, as the <span class="caps">US</span> and Australia disagreed about the application of international&nbsp;law.</p><p>&nbsp;‘The impasse meant that Australian troops were engaged in a conflict in which they could not take captives in their own right. &nbsp;This posed serious questions about the <span class="caps">ADF</span>’s ability to fulfil its mission effectively in Afghanistan while at the same time meeting its obligations under international&nbsp;law.</p><p>‘As a result, Australia developed a detention policy that sought to avoid its international law obligations towards&nbsp;detainees.</p><p>‘This policy relied on a legal fiction. That is, if just one <span class="caps">US</span> soldier was posted with Australian troops, Australia argued that the <span class="caps">US</span> was the Detaining Power and the <span class="caps">US</span> would be solely responsible for any&nbsp;captives.’</p><p>Mr Santow said this legal fiction was the foundation for Australia’s argument that any prisoners captured by the <span class="caps">ADF</span> were not really transferred to <span class="caps">US</span> custody because Australia was never a detaining&nbsp;power.</p><p>The documents obtained by <span class="caps">PIAC</span> reveal&nbsp;that:&nbsp;</p><ul><li>Australia knew this arrangement of convenience relied on a legal fiction. Nevertheless, Australia used the policy in Afghanistan and&nbsp;Iraq;</li><li>Australia’s detention policy was inconsistent with the spirit and purpose of the Geneva Conventions. Australia was therefore in breach of international&nbsp;law;</li><li>Australia’s detention policy meant, in effect, that the <span class="caps">ADF</span> captured suspected Al Qa’eda or Taliban fighters and then handed them over to the <span class="caps">US</span> without any further regard for the prisoners’ treatment. Australia knew the detainees it was handing over would be denied legal protection as POWs;&nbsp;and</li><li>Australia signed the Trilateral Arrangement with the <span class="caps">US</span> and <span class="caps">UK</span>, which provided for the arrangements to deal with detainees’ treatment and detention in Iraq. &nbsp;The Trilateral Arrangement was drafted to ensure compliance with international law. &nbsp;However, Australia tried to circumvent the Trilateral Arrangement, and its international obligations, by continuing the detention practice it had used in&nbsp;Afghanistan.</li></ul><p><strong>Related&nbsp;coverage:</strong></p><ul><li><strong><a href="http://www.piac.asn.au/news/2011/07/war-prisoner-scheme-defied-global-law" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">War prisoner scheme defied global law</a>&nbsp;</strong>(<em><span class="caps">SMH</span></em>, 4 July&nbsp;2011)</li><li><strong><a href="http://www.piac.asn.au/news/2011/07/adf-deploys-legal-fiction-iraq-afghanistan" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Detention Deceit</a>&nbsp;</strong>(Public Interest Advocacy Centre, 4 July&nbsp;2011)</li><li><strong><a href="http://www.piac.asn.au/news/2011/07/captured-and-detained-under-legal-fiction" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Captured and detained under a legal fiction</a>&nbsp;</strong>(Public Interest Advocacy Centre, 4 July&nbsp;2011)</li></ul><p>Photo: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29456680@N06/3071313316" rel="nofollow">Flickr</a></p><div class="field field-type-nodereference field-field-campaign">
<div class="field-label">Campaign:&nbsp;</div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<a href="/node/6069">Rule of law in armed conflict</a> </div>
</div>
</div>
News ItemPublish to militarySun, 03 Jul 2011 18:00:20 +00004631 at http://www.piac.asn.au